by InTrieste
Regional and cultural organizations in Friuli Venezia Giulia signed an agreement on Monday to establish the body that will organize the 2028 edition of Europeada, the European football championship for linguistic minorities. The tournament, which brings together teams representing minority communities from across the continent, will be held in the region between late June and early July of next year.
The newly formed association includes representatives of the Confederation of Slovene Organizations, the Slovene Cultural and Economic Association, the Union of Slovene Sports Associations in Italy, the Friulian Philological Society, and the Friulian Sports Association. Their cooperation marks a formal step toward hosting the event, which will feature both men’s and women’s competitions.
Pierpaolo Roberti, the regional councillor for local autonomy, called the signing “an important milestone” for Friuli Venezia Giulia, a borderland region that recognizes four official languages: Italian, Slovene, German, and Friulian.
“Europeada is more than just a sporting event,” Roberti said. “It highlights our linguistic and cultural diversity. Bringing it here will showcase not only our footballing tradition but also the richness of our heritage.”
The Friulian representative team won the tournament in 2024, following earlier participation by the Slovene community team. Organizers hope to include the region’s German-speaking minority in the preparations for 2028.
The competition is promoted by the Federal Union of European Nationalities, or FUEN, an organization founded more than 65 years ago that advocates for the rights, languages, and cultural traditions of Europe’s national minorities.
Roberti emphasized that the event will raise Friuli Venezia Giulia’s profile internationally. “Today, the organizational work officially begins,” he said, “and with it, the opportunity to show the world what makes this region unique.”
